When my kids were very little, they were both always clamoring to pull a chair up to the kitchen counter and help with whatever I was doing. Their little hands quickly learned to operate my stand mixer, and how to sift dry ingredients with a whisk. I taught them how to measure ingredients, pour batter and set a table. Back then, I couldn’t imagine a time when they wouldn’t be on my heels in the kitchen, helping in some way.
But then things changed, and they’re growing up. These days, my 7-year-old daughter would rather play outside with her friends than make a salad for dinner. My son has a laundry list of things he loves to do … but seldom does “make cookies with Mom,” make the list anymore. He’s 10, and the allure of so many other things captures his attention more now.
It makes me a little sad. I miss the days when all they wanted was to help me — when I was the center of their universes. There was a time when if they saw me making something like these burritos, they would have insisted on being involved. Not so anymore. But at the same time, I see them growing and making smart choices, and am so proud that these two little humans are mine.
The fact that Paige comes home and wants to ride her bike, play imaginative games outside and run around? That’s awesome. It’s healthy. It’s the childhood I wanted for her. And the fact that Will is often nose deep in a book. Or riding his bike. Or creating things with his LEGOs — things that come from his imagination instead of an instructions booklet? That’s amazing too. I can practically see his brain at work, thinking, planning and learning.
This is when family life gets tricky. As a parent, I want to cultivate and encourage their interests, even if I don’t share them. I want them to enjoy life too, and play outside. But I also want them to recognize the value of family, and together-time. And, I want them to contribute to our household through chores and helping with dinner. Cooking, in particular, is an important skill to learn — so I still have them help with dinner whenever I can. But I’m walking a delicate line, trying to make sure they have both roots and wings.
Soon, they’ll head back to school. Our relaxed summer mornings, lingering over breakfast together, will be replaced with busy mornings where we rush to get ready and out the door in time to catch the school bus. They’ll be less time — for eating, waking up, connecting, whatever.
That’s where these Make-Ahead Bacon Breakfast Burritos will come in handy. Whip up a batch on the weekend, and you can freeze them until you want to eat ’em. Just microwave them from frozen for about two minutes, and you have a hot, nourishing breakfast that’s totally portable — perfect for the busiest of mornings. Or whenever.
Want to try them? The trick to making these comes in the rolling up process. Place the filling in the center of the tortilla, in a line. You want them rolled tightly with the ends tucked in for the best eating experience. Then fold in the ends. Finally, roll them up, tucking the filling inside and the ends in as you go.
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup diced sweet onions
- ½ cup diced bell peppers
- 6 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 burrito-size tortillas
- 6 slices cooked bacon, cut in half
- Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the onions and peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden. Remove from the pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into the hot saute pan and cook, stirring frequently, until fluffy and cooked through. Remove from heat and stir the peppers and onions into the eggs.
- Divide the egg mixture evenly among the tortillas, arranging it in the center of each. Sprinkle with the cheese, dividing it evenly among the burritos. Top each with 3 halves of bacon. Fold the tortilla ends up and then roll to close. Wrap in foil and store in a resealable bag in the freezer.
- To enjoy, remove one burrito from the freezer and unwrap, discarding the foil. Place the burrito on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 1 minute. flip and microwave for 1 minute more. Let cool for a few minutes before digging in.